Intraluminal device with looped core wire

Abstract

Intraluminal and endovascular devices and methods of manufacturing intraluminal and endovascular devices may be provided. In one implementation, an intraluminal device may include a sheath having a flexible distal bending segment and a core wire arranged within the sheath. The core wire may include a distal end portion doubled back in a loop within the sheath such that the distal tip of the core wire is situated proximally from the loop. The intraluminal device may also include a movement restrictor within the sheath that is configured to limit axial movement of the distal tip of the core wire. Limiting the axial movement of the core wire distal tip may cause the loop of the core wire to buckle, resulting in a bend in the distal bending segment of the sheath, when a force is exerted on the core wire.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intraluminal device, comprising:
 a flexible, elongated sheath having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section of the sheath terminating in a distal end of the sheath, wherein the distal section of the sheath has a distal bending segment and a proximal support segment situated proximally from the distal bending segment, the distal bending segment being configured for greater flexibility than the proximal support segment; 
 an elongated core wire extending between a proximal tip of the core wire and a distal tip of the core wire, the core wire being situated at least partially within the sheath, wherein the core wire comprises a distal end portion doubled back in a loop within the sheath such that at least a portion of the core wire is situated proximally from the loop of the core wire, wherein the loop of the core wire includes a double turn, such that following a turn of the core wire toward a proximal end of the sheath, the core wire turns back toward the distal end of the sheath; and 
 a movement restrictor situated at least partially within the sheath, the movement restrictor being configured to limit axial movement of the distal tip of the core wire in at least one axial direction and to permit the loop of the core wire to buckle, resulting in a bend in the distal section of the sheath, when an axial force is exerted on the core wire. 
 
     
     
       2. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the movement restrictor comprises:
 a bond between the core wire and an inner wall of the sheath, the bond situated proximally from the distal tip of the core wire. 
 
     
     
       3. The intraluminal device of  claim 2 , wherein the bond is formed by at least one of an adhesive or a weld. 
     
     
       4. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the movement restrictor comprises:
 an insert situated within an inner channel of the sheath, the insert comprising at least one of an obstruction or a ring connected to a wall of the inner channel of the sheath. 
 
     
     
       5. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sheath comprises:
 a coil including one or more wires wound to form a plurality of windings, at least some of the windings of the coil forming the distal section of the sheath. 
 
     
     
       6. The intraluminal device of  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the windings forming the distal section of the sheath are configured to have spaces therebetween. 
     
     
       7. The intraluminal device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein at least a portion of the proximal section of the sheath is formed of windings of the coil, and 
 wherein at least some of the windings forming the proximal section of the sheath lack spaces therebetween. 
 
     
     
       8. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the distal section of the sheath includes a coil, and 
 wherein at least a portion of the proximal section of the sheath is formed of a construct other than a coil. 
 
     
     
       9. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the core wire in the distal section of the sheath is configured such that repeated exertions of force on the core wire result in repeatably consistent directional flexing of the core wire. 
     
     
       10. The intraluminal device of  claim 9 , wherein the distal end portion of the core wire has a non-circular cross-section that is configured to enable preferential bending of the core wire. 
     
     
       11. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the loop of the core wire is configured to form a gap between the loop of the core wire and an inner wall of the sheath, the gap being sized such that a portion of the loop of the core wire is configured to distort within the gap when the core wire is subject to an applied force. 
     
     
       12. The intraluminal device of  claim 11 , wherein the distortion of the core wire within the gap includes a buckling of the core wire within the gap. 
     
     
       13. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the loop of the core wire is configured such that when the core wire is moved distally, at least a portion of the loop does not move in a distal direction relative to the distal section of the sheath. 
     
     
       14. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a widening of the core wire situated proximally of the distal end portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The intraluminal device of  1 , wherein the sheath and the core wire are biased in a straightened configuration and are configured such that an axial pulling force on the core wire causes bending of the distal bending segment of the sheath. 
     
     
       16. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is configured to traverse the vasculature within a human brain. 
     
     
       17. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the movement restrictor is a step formed within the inner channel of the sheath, and 
 wherein an edge of the distal end portion of the core wire is positioned against the step. 
 
     
     
       18. The intraluminal device of  claim 17 , wherein the core wire is positioned against the step at a location proximally spaced from the distal tip of the core wire. 
     
     
       19. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire extends continuously through the loop of the core wire. 
     
     
       20. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the movement restrictor is a narrowing of an inner channel of the sheath. 
     
     
       21. The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the loop of the core wire is disjointed into two segments at a bend thereof and the disjointed segments of the core wire are bonded together.